This archive report was first published on 9 May 2021.
On April 25, 2021, a billboard of aspirant Susan Njeri Wakapee in Juja caught the attention of residents.
The Juja by-election has become a highly contested race, with the two main political parties, Jubilee and People's Empowerment Party, vying for the seat.
The seat fell vacant following the death of Juja MP Francis Waititu, popularly known as “Wakapee”, on February 23, 2021, at MP Shah Hospital in Nairobi while undergoing treatment for brain cancer.
President Uhuru Kenyatta made a brief visit to Kimbo to drum up support for the Jubilee candidate, Susan Njeri Wakapee, in the Juja by-election.
With one week to go before the May 18 polls, Jubilee Party’s top brass, including Kiambu Governor James Nyoro and his predecessor William Kabogo, Ruiru MP Simon King'ara, and former Dagoretti West MP Denis Waweru, marshalled their troops to sway the votes in favour of Jubilee’s Njeri.
Some of the contestants have resorted to door-to-door campaigns, social media, and use of development projects to woo voters, seeing as Covid-19 regulations ban rallies.
Although Juja is largely perceived as a Jubilee turf and President Uhuru’s backyard, Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria seems to be thinking otherwise, campaigning for People’s Empowerment Party candidate George Koimburi.
